Clay cutting device



Nov. 18, 1941. J. SCHEIBL CLAY JCUTTING DEVICE' Filed Jan. 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOSEF SCHEIBL Nov, 18, 1941.

N Q we Q gg I? l H m o w S g m a N R u m N a n I k U E x 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

6H SCHHBL ATTORNEY.

Nov. 18, 1941. J. SCHEIBL 2,263,474

' CLAY CUTTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOSEF SCHEIBL BY 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 18, 1941 CLAY cu'r'rmo nEvrcr:

Josef Scheibl, Wels, Austria, assignor to Julianna Orbell, New York, N. Y.

Application January 17, 1938. Serial No. 185,354

vc Claims. (01. 25-105),

tinguished fromv the usual clay cutting. devices which are adapted to make the conventional smooth, transverse cut on one plane, which latter machines are employed in the manufacture of common rectangular brick.

In the manufacture of articles from clay and like materials, a wire is normally employed for making the transverse out since the wire, while not as sharp as a knife, nevertheless has a far lower skin resistance than the knife, while passing through the clay.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for cutting hollow brick of the type described in I my co-pending application Serial No. 142,338, I

although it will be appreciated that the instant invention is in no measure limited to a device for the cutting of such brick or tile, since 'the device is equally useful for the making of a cut of predetermined contour in any plastic material. In my aforementioned co-pending application, I described a brick having a plurality of longitu- In order to form brick of this general character, it'is necessary to make a. double cut as the brick is extruded, since the contour of the meeting terminals of the brick are similar but are in the reverse. Accordingly, I employ a pair of suitably supported wires which are moved in opposite directions and which work against each other. even though the general planes of movement of the two wires are slightly separated. The wincutters are guided in their course by means oi; templates or guide plates.

The invention is not limited to a machine for making a double out, however, since it may be usedwith good results when the meeting terminals of the brick are of the same contour, in which case only a single cut is made.

- The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings is a hand' operated device, alth'ough it will be appreciated that thema'ch-ine may be appropriately modified to cause it to be motor driven and substantially automatic in operation.

In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the cutting machine, the view showing the two wire cutting elements in asubstantially intermediate position; Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but shows the relationship of the parts when the cutting frames have been drawn to their maximum outward position when the movable carriage has been moved into engagement with th'e plate 21;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred guide plate ortemplate employed in the present dinal apertures extending from end .to end, the

total transverse area thereof being equal to or greater than me total transverse area of the remaining walls. In some instances, of course, the total area of, the voids might be less than the combined area of the solid portions. Diificulty has always been experienced in the cutting off of such brick as distinguished from tile, in that the relatively thin walls break down during the cutting operation, thereby rendering the brick useless.

'Ih'e cutting of the particular brick described in said application is rendered particularly diflicult by virtue of the fact that the transverse cut is,

- apertures.

machine; r

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a brick, showing the terminal surfaces which are cut by the present machine; v

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another template having only a single recess which is adapted to be used where only a Single cut is made;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a brick of the type adapted to be cut by the template sh'own in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of oneform of tensioning device for the upper end of the cutting wire.

The presently preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a longitudinal movable frame or carriage l0 comprising a pair of spaced longitudinal angle bars II and I2, which bars are secured together in their spaced relationship by are brackets l6 carrying shafts I1 upon which I rollers I8 are pivotally mounted." The entire frame II is supported by these rollers l8 which vided for preventing the same from passing of! the trackways. The articular brick or tile which are adapted to be transversely cut by the present cutting machine are provided with a plurality of longitu-' dinal apertures, thereby making for a lighter brick than if the same were solid. It will'be appreciated, however, that the machine is not limited to a device for cutting hollow or substantially hollow brick, but may be employed generally for cutting clay or like materials.-

brick which this machine is particularly adapted to cut transversely is of a type which is extruded from an extrusion machine as distinguished from a molded brick. The extrusion machine (not illustrated) is positioned to the left of the movable cutting device, and the extruded material is adapted to pass over, a stationary plate, a broken "portion of which is indicated at 21, which plate is spaced from the cutting frame when in its outward position indicated in Fig. 1.

Mounted on a plurality of angle brackets 29, which are supported on the upper surfaces of the longitudinal angles II and I2, are a pair of substantially rectangular slide plates 39 and 3|, which slide plates are positioned on the same plane as the stationary plate 21. When the process begins, the slidable carriageis moved to the left where it comes into engagement with the plate 21, at which time the clay or other material is extruded from the extrusion machine and passes over the plates 39 and 3| until its forward end is stopped by coming into engagement with a stop plate 34 which, when the carriage is in the position shown in Fig, 1, is in a downwardly inclined position.

. The stop plate 34 is mounted on another plate 35 provided with bearing portions 36 which are supported on a transverse shaft 31. The shaft 31 is supported adjacent to its terminals in a 4 pair of bearings 39 secured on the upper surface of the angles I I and I2 adjacent to the outer ends thereof. One end of this shaft extends beyond its bearing and is provided with a crank 49 having a roller 4| on its crank arm 42. The longitudinal trackway 29 supports an upwardly extending bracket 44, the outer vertical edge 45 of which is engaged by the roller 4I. Thus, as the carriage is moved to the left, the roller 4| engages this vertical edge 45 and causes the stop plate 34 to assume a vertical position when the extruded material reaches the outer 'end of the plate 3|, thereby stopping its further movement. The cutting device is now ready to function.

The cutting elements are supported on a pair of spaced vertical supports 49 and 49 which are rigidly mountedon opposite sides of the frame. A substantially rectangular template is mounted between the standards 48 and 49 at the upper end thereof, and a pair of bearings 53 and 54 are also mounted at the upper ends of said standards 49 and 49, respectively. Each of the bearing members 53 and 54 are provided with bearing portions 55 and 56 at opposite ends thereof.

On each of the'longitudinal angle members II and I2, directly below the bearing portions 55 and 56, there are also mounted bearing members 51, which upper and lower bearing members sup- Also, the

passes around the pulley 19.

areas? port a pair'of transversely movable frames 69 and II which support the cutting elements. These frames comprise vertical end portions 99 and upper and lower transverse rods 64. The vertical arm 99 of the frame 99 is provided with a handle member 69. The two frames 69 and SI are adapted to be moved simultaneously in opposite directions by the means now to be described, and in the preferred operation of the device, the frame 99 is adapted to begin its movement when it is positioned at its maximum outward location from the movable carriage. When this frame 99 is positioned at its maximum outward position (i. e., when the frame 69 has been drawn outwardly by grasping the handle 66) the frame 9| is in its maximum position in the opposite direction. A pair of pulleys 19 and 1| are mounted on the bearing members 59 and 54, and a cable 19 is secured at one end thereof to =the frame 69 at the point 14, and at its opposite end to, the frame 9| at the point 19, which cable Another cable 19 is secured to the opposite side of the frame 99 at the point 11, and its other terminal is secured to the frame 9| at the point 19. Thus it will be appreciated that as the frame 69 is moved in one direction by meansof grasping the handle 69, the frame 6| will move in the opposite direction.

The frame 6| supports a stirrup-shaped bracket 99 which is pivotally mounted at 9| and 92 to bearing members 93 and 94. This stirrup-shaped bracket 99 is thus pivotally movable within limits which are restricted by other portions of the device. Another stirrup-shaped bracket 99 is pivotally mounted to the opposite side of the frame 5| at 99 and 99, which bracket likewise is movable within short limits. At the inner terminals of each of the pivotally mounted brackets 89 and 99 are mounted cutting wires 94 and 95 respectively, which wires are secured to blocks 96 at their lower ends and pass over blocks 91 at their upper ends. Suitable tensioning means are provided for these wires, which will be described hereinafter, said tensioning means including a pawl 99, a ratchet I99, and a thumb turn I9I. In order to cause the wire to pass over the block more readily, a small roller I92 is provided.

Mounted at the inner end of the brackets 99 and 99 above the wires are a pair of slide rollers I94 and I95, which are adapted to move longitudinally in a pairof irregularly shaped slots I91 in thetemplate 5|. In the template shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there are two such longitudinal openings which are formed to correspond with the desired cut at the end of the brick. The two slots are formed in the template when a double cut is desired for the extruded brick. In cases, however, where only a. single cut is desired, a single slot in the template is provided and only one of the pivoted stirrup-shaped brackets 99 or 99 is employed. Only one such template is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which template is positioned above the upper ends of the stirrup-shaped brackets 99 and 99. In cases, however, where the material is quite difficult to cut, a second template should be positioned below the brackets 99 and 99, which template will have longitudinal recesses corresponding to those in the upper template, and in this instance the lower ends of the brackets 99 and 99 are also fitted with 1 et 80 should be in its maximum position to the left of the center of the device, and the wire 95 mounted on the pivoted bracket 88 is in its maximum position to the right of such center, all as shown in Fig, 2. After the. extruded material has passed to the outer end of the plate 3| and engages the stop plate 34, and the material is about to be given its double cut, it is desirable that some suitable side supporting means for the material be provided, and to this end there are provided a pair of vertical supports H2 and H3 to which are secured on their inner faces a strip of felt I I4. on horizontal rods I I6 which pass through spaced horizontal apertures in the vertical members 48 and 49. 'At the outer terminals of such rods there are positioned washers H8 and cotterpins H9, and between the members H2 and 48 a spring I2I is concentrically mounted on each rod H6. Thus, the supporting members H2 and H3 are normally urged inwardly, and in order to retract the members as the material moves over the plates 30 and 3I, these members H2 and H3 are formed with upwardly extending portions I23 which are adapted to be engaged by the blocks 91 positioned at the inner terminals of the frames 80 and 88. Thus, when the frames are moved to their maximum outward position prior to the cutting operation, these'blocks engage the upwardly extending portions and move the extending portions outwardly. I

At the beginning of the cutting operation, the blocks 91 cease their engagement with the portions I23 and the supporting members H2 and H3 and move inwardly to a point where they are in firm engagementwith the sides of the material to be cut. The plates 30 and 3I are further formed with longitudinal guide members I25 and I26 which are adapted to guide the material as it passes thereover.

In the operation of the device, the movable carriage I is moved to the left, wherein it is in meeting engagement with the vertical edge of the plate 21 which forms a part of the extruding machine. In this position the stop plate 34 is in a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2. The clay (not shown) emerges from the extrusion machine and passes over the plates 30 and 3| until itis in engagement with the stop plate 34. The handle 66 is now manipulated, thereby releasing the vertical supporting plates 1 I2 and H3 in order that they may come into firm engagement with the vertical walls of the brick and the cutting wires 94, 95 pass through the clay. At the end of the stroke, the vertical supports H2 and H3 are again forced out of engagement with the clay and the carriage is moved to the right, thereby lowering the stop plate 34 and permitting the removal of the brick. At the same time, the waste material formed by the two outs is removed and the carriage is again moved to the left and the extruded clay again forced into engagement with the stop plate 34.

As a hand operated embodiment, the carriage is preferably stationary during the cutting operation, although when the invention is embodied in an automatic or semiautomatic machine, the

carriage may be moved to the left and the clay fed onto the plates 30 and 3|. In this instance the clay is desirably continuously fed and the cutting operation takes place as the carriage is moving to the right. It will be appreciated that any desired shape of cut may be made by varying the shape of the slots-in the templates 5|.

These vertical supports are mounted The bricks I30 and I3I illustrated in 'Figs. 4 and 6, respectively, are shown as being solid, although it will be appreciated that the present cutting device finds its greatest usefulness in cutting a brick having one or more longitudinal apertures or voids. The brick shown in Fig. 6 is theresult of providing a single cut onlylby using a template I32 having the single recess or slot I33. The brick I30 is formed with a pair of spaced vertical recesses I36 adjacent to each vertical edge thereof, and when two such bricks are laid in end, to end relationship, a substantial double recess is formed into which the mortar may be poured, all as described in my copending application. The brick I3I is formed with recesses or female portions I38 at one end thereof and with corresponding male portions I39 at opposite ends, which brick is also useful for many purposes.

Fig. 7 illustrates one form of tensioning device for the cutting wire previously described. In this instance the block 91 is suitably mounted on the pivoted frame and a pin or roller I02 is positioned at one end thereof. The wire 95 passes over this roller and is secured to a shaft I40 having a thumb turn IIII. A ratchet wheel I00 is keyed to this shaft and when the proper tension of the wire has been secured, the ratchet is engaged by a pawl 99 which is provided with a finger engaging portion I at the opposite end thereof. The ratchet portion is downwardly engaged by means of a spring I42 supported by I truded material during the cutting operation, a

pair of spaced frames movable transversely of the base member, and means for supporting said .frameson said carriage, a cutting element support-pivotally mounted at one end on each frame. a cutting element comprising a wire mounted on the other end of each support, and means for guiding such other end of the support during transverse movement to cause the cutting element to make a cut of predetermined contour.

2. A device for making a plurality of closely spaced transverse cuts in extruded plastic material to form complemental recesses in the end walls of blocks made from such material, such device comprising a base member for receiving such material as it leaves the extrusion die, a movable carriage supporting such base member and adapted to travel with the extruded material during the cutting operation, a pair of cutting wires movable transversely of the carriage and adapted to travel through the moving extruded material in closely spaced planes, means for supporting said wires on said carriage and comprising'a pair of spaced frames movable transversely of the base, and means for supporting said frames on said carriage, a cutting wire support pivotally mounted at one end thereof on each frame, means at the other end of each support for supporting the wire in taut condition, means for guiding such other end of the support during transverse movement to cause the cutting wire to make a cut of predetermined contour, and means for causing one frame to move in one support positioned 'jacent to the outer end direction when the otherframe is moved in the opposite directionv 3. A machine for making a plurality of closely spaced transverse cuts in extruded plastic material and forming complemental recesses in adjacent blocks of such material, such machine comprising a base member for receiving such material as it leaves an extrusion die, a longitudinally reciprocating carriage supporting said base member and adapted to travel with the extruded material during the cutting operation, a pair of spaced frames movable transversely of the base member, means for supporting said frames. on said carriage, a cutting element support pigotally mounted at one end on each frame, a cutting. element comprising a wire mounted on the other. end of each support, means for guiding such other end of each support during transverse movement, and means for gauging the length of the blocks to be cut comprising a stop member at the rear end of the base member, a transverse shaft supporting such stop member, means for causing such stop member to assume a vertical position when the base member is in forward position, and means for lowering the stop member when the base member is inrearward position.

4. A device for making transverse cuts in extruded plastic material comprising a base mem-. ber for receiving such material as it leaves the extrusion die, a support positioned on each side of the base member, a pair of spaced reciprocating frames journalled in eachof said supports and being movable transversely of the base member, a substantially U shaped cutting element support journalled at itsouter end adjacent the outer terminal of each frame, a cutting element comprising a wire mounted between the inner terminals of each support, means for guiding such inner terminal of each support during transverse movement to cause the vcutting element to make a transverse cut of predetermined contour, such means comprising 'a template having an elongated recess corresponding to said contour, and guiding means carried by each cutting element support adapted to travel in such recess.

5. A device for making transverse cuts in extruded plastic material comprising a base member for receiving such material as it leaves an extrusion die, a reciprocating carriage supporting said base member and adapted to travel in the direction of movement of the extruded maierial during the cutting operation, a vertical ber substantially thereof, a pair of transversely movable cutting elements, each element comprising a frame journalled in said supports, a cutting element sup port pivotally mounted at its outer end; ad of each frame, acutting wire mounted between the inner ends of each support, means for guiding such inner ends of on each side of the base men 1- midway between each end each support during transverse movement to cause the cutting element to make a cut of' predetermined contour, such means comprising a cam surface corresponding to said contour,

and

a cam follower carried by said support adapted to engage the cam surface.

6. A device for making transverse cuts in extruded plastic material comprising a base member for receiving .such material as it leaves the extrusion die, a reciprocating carriage supporting said base member and adapted to travel with the extruded material during the cutting operation. a vertical support positioned on "each side of the base'member substantially midway between each end thereof, a pair of spaced reciprocatini frames journalled in said supports and being movable transversely of the base member, a substantially U shaped support pivotally mounted at its outer end adjacent to the outer end of each frame", a cutting element comprising a wire mounted between the inner ends of each support, means for guiding such inner ends of the supports during transverse movement to cause the cutting element to make a cut of predetermined contour, such means comprising a template having an elongated recess corresponding to said contour, guiding meanscarried by said support movable in such recess, and means for causing the frames to simultaneously move in opposite directions.

7. A device for making transverse cuts in extrudedplastic-material comprising a base member for receiving such material as it leaves the extrusion die, a reciprocating carriage supporti said base member and adapted to travel with the extruded material during the cutting operation, a vertical support positioned on each side of the base member, a pair of spaced reciprocating frames journalled in-said supports and being movable transversely of the base, a support pivotally mounted at one end on each frame, a cutting element comprising a wire mounted between the .terminals of the other end of each support, means terminals of the support during transverse movement to cause the cutting element to make a cut of predetermined contour,-and means for supporting the side walls of the plastic material during the cutting operation comprising a retractable member which engages each side wall of the extruded material, and means carried by the frame for retracting such members.

8. A device for making a transverse cut of predetermined 'contour in extruded plastic material comprising a base member for receiving such. material as it leaves the extrusion die, a

.movable carriage supporting such base member and adapted to travel with the extruded ma- JOSEF SCHZEIBL.

for guiding such inner shaped cutting element sup- 

